Diabetes. Wow, that is not a pretty word. Why dont they call it something else? I've already had "depression" or "borderline personality disorder" for about 5 years, and now i might have diabetes. At least, im scared i might, or hypoglothermia i think its called? Does anyone know which one is worse? Well anyway, heres why i think i have it: I'm overweight, it runs in the family (my dad and grandma both have it) I have the signs: numbness, blurry vision, thirst, going to the bathroom all the time, hungry all the time, tired all the time, all symptoms except a huge decrease in my weight. And most of all because, I used to be on the depression drug "Abilify" which they now say 50% of patients that have been on that medicine have gotten it. I AM SO MAD I CANT EVEN SAY! STUPID STUPID DOCTORS! I AM NEVER TAKING A MED EVER AGAIN. Should i be mad at myself for this? If i never had depression in the first place, i would have never gotten diabetes. When i think of diabetes, i think of people who are in terrible health, who when they end up in their 60's, they have to get their legs cut off and they go blind, never able to get drunk again and party, or never get to eat sweets, never any energy and always moody and mean. IS THAT WHATS GOING TO HAPPEN TO ME? As if i didnt have enough problems, im only 17. Like any guy is going to date me now, "Hi, i have diabetes." *Cringe* THIS ISNT FAIR! I think God honestly hates me. I havent gone to the doctor yet and i dont know if i should or not, im just curious as to what will happen if i never go to the doctor and i think i have it. STUPID ABILIFY!!! Now i might have 2 diseases, a bad personality disorder, and diabetes. I also have another sign of something too, it really burns "down there" and i dont know whats wrong. But im ready to start crying right now. I dont want to give myself shots everyday, GROSS! i cant stand the site of blood. I'm just thinking of commiting myself to an insane asylum right now, because I seriously cant handle this and I DONT wanna get checked out. THIS ISNT FAIR!!! What should i do? Helpe me someone. I know if i have it, my mom is going to go "Ha ha! You deserve after being so mean all these years" is what she said to my dad who got it. Now Im going to turn into my dad, fat and heart diseasish, couch potato watching TV all the time moody ornrey and and mean. I HATE MY LIFE! WHAT SHOULD I DO??????????

-amy

Hi Amy, You need to visit your local Registered Dietetian as soon as possible. It sounds like you have type 2 diabetes, which can be controlled though proper diet. This is typically not a insulin dependent diabetes, so dont worry about the needles. They will probably give you a pill like Glucophage. You need to see an RD soon, it sounds like your blood sugar level is off the chart. You could go blind or go into a coma if you dont see one soon. I really dont think that pill caused it though. Type 2 is becoming very common in younger individual like yourself. Some of my best friends have diabetes, i promise your life is not over its just beginning. Good luck!!

Amy: You sound kind of like me but I was in my early 20's when diagnosed with type 1. However, like the other poster said, you most likely have type 2. The "burning down there" is probably a yeast infection. That is how I was diagnosed. It happens when blood sugar is high for too long. My GYN told me it was the worst she'd ever seen! Then she asked me a bunch of questions, sent me to a lab for a six hour glucose test but the lab sent me home after the first blood draw. My sugar was 900, which is very very high. An hour later I was told I had diabetes. My world crashed. I had also been depressed for quite a while leading up to this and couldn't figure out what was wrong. All I wanted to do was sleep, eat, drink and urinate. HOWEVER, once I began medication, I started to feel so much better. A week after starting insulin, my world turned around and I felt normal again. It's not easy taking the shots and watching what I eat but it is so much better than the way I felt before. And if they put you on a pill and if you have to watch what you eat (you can eat anything in moderation), you will feel so much better. Go to the doctor as soon as you can and get checked out. You are not alone. So many people have this disease and it is no longer a death sentence. I am not the best patient because I don't follow the eating/exercise thing that well, but here I am 44 now with (knock wood) no complications at all. Please, see a doctor now and get back to us with your progress.

Amy, The first thing you have to do is take control of your own life. Do not care what anybody says. Having to take pills or insulin and watching your diet is not the end of the world, especially if you are overweight, diabetics are some of the healthiest people around because we have to watch our life style so carefully. I never took such good care of myself until I was diagnosed, and now I,m doing well, you can incorporate diabetes into your life if you want some quality in your life, if you want to marry some day and have a family. I know you must scared and overwhelmed at 17 and think the whole world is against you, trust me, it,s not. Go to the doctor, take it one step at a time. If you are worried about complications, keep ignoring your symptoms and they will come faster than you ever thought and then you will have no quality of life whatsoever, and people will tell you, I told you so, for not taking care of yourself. This may sound harsh and I don,t really mean it that way, but stop whining and feeling sorry for yourself, take charge of your life, be in control, be a strong person, and trust me, then everything will work out. Go to the doctor and start yourself on the road to good health and longevity. Good luck and let us know how you are doing. Sharon

Well, I tried being mad and it doesn't work so I am just trying to save you a few years of bad mood. I was 21 when I was diagnosed with type 1. Have you been to the Dr and been diagnosed or are you worried because of the symptoms? I would not try to deal with all of these emotions until I was sure I had the disease.

Assuming that you have been to the Dr, you can live a full life with this. I am married with 4 kids. I also deal with other chronic conditions that have nothing to do with my diabetes so I know what it's like. There are things out there beyond our control. This is NOT one of them. My sister just lost a good friend of hers last week to Hodgekin's Lymphoma... She was 20. So there are many things that could be worse.

I would get in to see the Dr and find out what is going on with it. Burning down there with no itching is probably a urinary tract infection and needs to be looked at. If the Dr says that you do have it, try to set up an appt with an Endocrinologist and a dietician. They will help you put things into perspective. And I believe the word you are looking for is Hypoglycemia. Good luck

Hi Amy,

I agree with everything Mindy told you. Life can ALWAYS be worse. I also have other chronic conditions that have nothing to do with the diabetes and it is dealable. One of my mottos that I live by is "don't worry until you have something to worry about." Try this. You are worrying about having a disease that you don't even know that you have. If it turns out that you do, it's not a death sentence (unless you make it one). Hang in there.

Sharon :)